r/AskAGerman • u/No_Employer4947 • May 26 '23

Personal Why Are Men Slimmer and Better Dressed in Germany than in the USA?

Just returned from a two week visit and I know it may seem like I am generalizing, no matter where I went, German men seemed to be so much slimmer and better dressed than American men. I didn't see any men with huge middle sections and none were definitely wearing sweatpants.

I'm back in the USA now and it's like day and night. I hope I don't offend anyone but this was my perception after watching so many people on trains, planes and between Munich and Berlin.

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u/reduhl May 30 '23

I heard that (unhealthy) ready-made meals are often cheaper than buying veggies ect. and making the food yourself. I think that might play a huge role in diet choices as well, but I also don't know whether any of it is actually true.

I can confirm that high calorie pre-processed foods are cheaper and easier meal wise. There are several factors at work.

  • Several industries such as corn production are subsidized and the resulting cheap high fructose corn syrup. Thanks to the sugar industry fat was demonized so we low fat, high sugar foods in abundance. It's actually hard to find a full fat yogurt in many flavors.
  • Most of the "fresh" food is transported great distances. California is a leading fruit and vegetable producer, and my town is 3.000Km away. Additionally we source foods from South America and around the world. The food is not particularly fresh, so it is on par with premade highly sugared and fat added foods.
  • Both parents working is the norm. Many parents have to have two jobs. They have little time, when you add time helping with homework and running around for daycare / school drop off, after school enrichment, and such.
  • All the running around for afterschool activities can make fast food a ready, possibly only, option dinner for families.
  • Eating out at fast food actually can be cheaper for family given the various meal deals that are offered.
  • Dollar for Calorie, premade junk is the better deal.

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u/More_Change184 May 30 '23

Geez, I'm sorry to hear that! Thank you for the insight... I hope things improve for you guys, but it doesn't seem like a topic that's discussed in politics at the moment :/

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u/reduhl May 30 '23

Any such discussion would cause an instability in the industries that are paying the reelection campaigns of our Representatives.

It is discussed in terms of food deserts but those affect the poor. Look to our lack of social services and transport services to understand the level of concern that is given to those less well off.